to dine with the Emperor, as he expected a choice dinner. But Aurangzīb lived in the most simple way, and when dinner was served it consisted of a plain loaf of barley bread, which he shared with his reverend guest. Next day, when the Emperor asked him where he would like to dine, he answered hastily that he would go to the guest-house.
This Pīr was about to marry his daughter; so he asked Aurangzīb to give him a donation. The Emperor, who was very economical in dealing with public money, answered: "I live on what I earn by transcribing the Koran. Here are eleven cowry-shells,[1] which is all I have at present." The Pīr was naturally disappointed, and when he came home put the cowries in a cupboard. When his wife asked him what he had received from the Emperor, he said: "Go to the cupboard and look." When she opened the door, lo! there were eleven splendid pearls.
VI. Aurangzīb and Saint Sarmad.
Sarmad was a noted wandering Faqīr in the days of Aurangzīb. One day he met a Mulla or Muhammadan priest, who asked him if he could repeat the Musalmān Confession of Faith. Sarmad professed utter ignorance of it. The Mulla began to teach it to him, and Sarmad got as far as to repeat the first half of the formula—"There is no deity but God"; but he could not say the latter half—"Further, Muhammad is the Apostle of God." Sarmad was brought before the Emperor, and there also he refused to repeat the second sentence of the Creed. Aurangzīb ordered him to be executed, and as he bared his neck to the sword, he cried: "In whatsoever shape Thou comest I know that thou art He." Still he would not repeat the words dictated by the Emperor: "Muhammad is the Apostle of God." But his head, when it was severed from the trunk, called out: "There is no deity but God; and, further, Muhammad is the Apostle of God." Aurangzīb at
- ↑ Cowry-shells vary in value throughout India. In one secluded part of Central India the quotation was 2880 to the rupee which is now worth 1s. 4d.
